Fans of Taylor Sheridan andYellowstoneneed to watch one of the acclaimed writer’s earlier movies, because it’s a perfect companion to the Dutton family’s story. Before he started creatingYellowstoneand all its spinoffsin 2018, Taylor Sheridan was a renowned movie writer. He created some truly special and acclaimed movies, likeSicarioandWind River, before he ever turned to the small screen. Some ofSheridan’s movies are great forYellowstonefans, but one is an absolutely perfect film to watch after theending ofYellowstone.
There are quite a fewYellowstoneshows already available to stream, and Sheridan has several moreupcomingYellowstoneshowsin production. In the meantime, fans of the show may want something they can stream right now on Paramount+. Though it doesn’t actually feature any members of theDutton family treeor even take place in the same world,Hell or High Wateris a fantastic choice for what to watch afterYellowstone.
Chris Pine And Jeff Bridges’ 7-Year-Old Western Is A Reminder That Yellowstone’s Taylor Sheridan Needs To Make Another Movie
One of Taylor Sheridan’s best movies, Hell or High Water, is a reminder that the Yellowstone writer makes great films and he needs to do another.
Hell Or High Water Is The Perfect Movie For Yellowstone Fans
Hell Or High Water Follows Toby As He Fights For His Land & His Children’s Future, Just As John Does In Yellowstone
Taylor Sheridan’s 2016 filmHell or High Watercame beforeYellowstone, but it has many similarities to the Western show.Hell or High Waterfollows Toby (Chris Pine) as he and his brother, Tanner (Ben Foster), rob a series of banks to pay off their debt and secure their mother’s land and the oil beneath it for Toby’s children.Immediately,Hell or High Water’s Toby sounds incredibly similar toYellowstone’s John Dutton III: both men take the law into their own hands to secure a future for their children.Hell or High Waterhas more similarities toYellowstonethan just in its protagonist, however.
Hell or High Wateris part of Taylor Sheridan’s “American Frontier” trilogy, along withSicarioandWind River; while they are three separate films, they share common narrative threads and character traits.
Hell or High Wateris one of thebest neo-Westerns ever made, just asYellowstoneis one of the best Western shows ever created. Both of Sheridan’s creations revitalized the genre and partially led to the Western “Renaissance” of the late 2010s and 2020s. As such,Hell or High Wateralso has a lot of the same offerings that appeal toYellowstonefans: its complicated, morally grey plot mixes perfectly with complex and well-developed characters, and its themes are as timeless now as they were almost a decade ago. There’s no better source of breakneck neo-Western action and interpersonal drama thanHell or High Water.
Of All Of Sheridan’s Movies, Hell Or High Water Is The Closest To Yellowstone
Hell Or High Water Feels Like The Blueprint For Yellowstone, While Many Of Sheridan’s Other Movies Explored Different Ideas
While almost all of Taylor Sheridan’s movies have something unique to offer,Hell or High Waterreally is the best forYellowstonefans. Many of Sheridan’s movies - likeSicario,Without Remorse, orThose Who Wish Me Dead- are more action-thrillers than neo-Westerns.Even Sheridan’s other neo-Western movie,Wind River, is more similar to a show likeDark Windsthan it is toYellowstone. Sheridan experimented with the genres and themes of his other films, to great effect, soHell or High Waterremains the best companion movie forYellowstone.
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Hell or High Water
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Those Who Wish Me Dead
ThoughHell or High Wateris the most similar,Taylor Sheridan’s other movies are still well worth watching. Most ofSheridan’s movies are available on Paramount+, and they all feature the same exceptional quality of writing he’s known for. Even viewers who don’t typically enjoy action-filled thrillers will still be able to find something they love aboutSicarioorThose Who Wish Me Dead.Hell or High Watermay be the best next watch for fans ofYellowstone, but just about anything Taylor Sheridan was involved with is still almost guaranteed to be worth your time.
How Hell Or High Water Is Different From Yellowstone
The Scale Of The Story Yields More Shades Of Gray
Hell or High Watercertainly parallelsYellowstonein some of its major plot points, butthe smaller scale of the neo-Western classic allows for intimate development of its primary characters. As a result, the entire movie boils down to shades of gray; Toby and Tanner are criminal bank robbers, but they’re robbing the very banks that are trying to force them off their land, on which oil has been discovered. Their adversaries are Marcus Hamilton and Alberto Parker, two Texas Rangers who are guilty of nothing besides upholding the law of the land.
It’s a hallmark of Taylor Sheridan’s writing that no major character really operates within strict lines of black and white.
The Dutton family and their inner circle aren’t afraid to use unscrupulous methods to protect their land and themselves, but by and large they’re clearly the “good guy” in the narrative, fighting against greedy corporations, corrupt politicians, or vicious militia members. InHell or High Water, it’s difficult to truly picture Toby, Tanner, Marcus, or Alberto as villains, given thatthe audience is given ample time to empathize with all four men. The turning point comes when Tanner opens fire with an automatic rifle, but even then you almost feel sorry for him having been driven to such desperation.
It’s a hallmark of Taylor Sheridan’s writing that no major character really operates within strict lines of black and white. However, that dynamic is at its best inHell or High Water.The paradox of rooting for armed bank robbers is part of what makes the movie so powerfully complex, and breeds true drama out of the situation. The complexity of the characters' motivations is perhaps the most significant difference between the modern classic andYellowstone.
Yellowstone vs. Hell Or High Water: What Is Taylor Sheridan’s Best Neo-Western?
Both Helped Revitalize The Western Genre
Hell or High Water’s debut preceded the release ofYellowstone, and the reviews were so positive that many designated it as a revitalization point for the modern Western genre. However, it earned just under $38 million at the box office, indicating that it didn’t reach a massive audience upon its release.Yellowstone,on the other hand, became a massive streaming hit as it unfolded, with the season 4 premiere garnering over 12.7 million viewers. In that sense,Hell or High WaterandYellowstonecan (and should) be looked at as a 1-2 punchfor bringing neo-Westerns back to the foreground.
Hell or High Waterearned four Oscar nominations at the 89th Academy Awards, including a Best Original Screenplay nomination for Taylor Sheridan.
For as popular asYellowstoneand its subsequent spinoffs have been,Hell or High Wateris perhaps Taylor Sheridan’s finest work as a writer. Admittedly it’s difficult to compare a stand-alone movie with a prestige drama series, but the list of accolades garnered byHell or High Watercertainly supports the notion thatthe airtight, perfectly-placed story is one of the finest Westerns of all time.Yellowstoneis certainly among the best Western TV shows ever, but Sheridan may never again craft a narrative as strong asHell or High Water.
Yellowstone
Cast
Yellowstone follows the Dutton family, led by patriarch John Dutton, as they defend their expansive ranch against external threats from land developers, an Indian reservation, and America’s first national park. Released on June 19, 2025, this series examines the complex dynamics and violent conflicts surrounding the largest contiguous ranch in the United States.
Hell or High Water is a modern Western crime thriller directed by David Mackenzie. Starring Chris Pine and Ben Foster as two brothers who embark on a series of bank robberies to save their family ranch, the film delves into themes of economic hardship and justice. Jeff Bridges plays a Texas Ranger nearing retirement, determined to catch them.
